The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-11
NUMBER 81.

destination, and the money sent by the
anxious relatives and friends in the
States, by the working of the postal de-
partment of the serial system, found
Its way in 10 Owens treasury and seldom
got whs g could gladden. the hearts of
the "A. spairing settlers for whom
il hadN ltended.
One N in the social system was re-
tanned VIII , had been promised In the
descriptions of the proposed business
methods OF the new community. Wages
were credited TO the members for the
work performed and they were charged
for what they had-all ON paper In
camp of 100 persons, the six men who
brought the drinking water received ON
paper $500 "A day each, the six cooks who
concocted the mush were paid like
amount, and when the mush was put
before the settlers, il was carried by
seven table girls who also received three
dollars a day-on paper. When Satur-
day night came around, the amounts due
each person was put down IN books kept
for the purpose. "As we figured il,
said Mr.. Rowe, lit would cost several
times as much Ia pay the cooks and
walters as the members of the colony
paid for board. | was the head shoe
maker and got three dollars a day, i'm the
same way as the Others were paid. The
company owes me now about SA.
SICKNESS AND DEATH.
The people from Maine were not long
in discovering what was the thing most
10 be dreaded in the settlement. When
Owen was first met he was asked about
the health of those already at Topolo-
bampo, and replied that all were we'll
except "A few who had the measles These
few cases of measles were found 20 be
small pox, and the hut of cane mating
was used as a hospital.
TWO MONTHS EXPERIENCE.
The party on the steamer had already
arrived and many of them had left
Guaymas for good. They and the peo-
pie ON the sloop were alike suffering
from the effects Of the life they had led
for two months MIR. Eaton, who
weighed 2l3s pounds at the commence
ment Of his life as "A colonist, had shrunk
Ia 175; Mr.. Fletcher had fallen away
from 26i pounds to l70 and Mr.. Rowe
weighed no pounds instead OF the 1854
AT which he tipped the scales when he
arrived in Mexico. So much for Topo-
lobampo mush and the life Of pioneer.
The Maine people could congratulate
themselves. however, that they were all
alive.
Mr.. Rowe found a home in the house
Of Mr.. j. NJ. Schnierle. at Hermosillo.
Mr.. Schnierle played the part of "A true
tryman with board and lodging for three
weeks, and declined To be recompensed
when at the end of that time Mr.. Rowe
left for Maine.
OWENS CHARACTER.
Albert Owen. the founder of the Credit
Foncier. as has been said before, bears a
bad reputation among the honest people
who know him well. At some time
Owen has really signed a contract with
the Mexican Government, for this con-
tract, ora copy of IL. was shown To Mr..
Rowe by "A government officer The
agreement calls for the construction OF
a railroad and the settlement Of five
hundred families ON "A tract Of land ON
the Fuesta River. just how much claim
10 the land Owen would have had, even
had he carried out the provisions Of the
contract. N not clear, but he had failed
Ia keep the agreement long before ths
colony of 1887 was founded
''The land. itself, In worthless" said
Mr.. Rowe. Every inch Of valuable
land in Mexico is owned by the Mexicans.
Owen lied to us to get us there. He
didn't own "A foot Of land in Mexico at
the time. He has succeeded I'm having "A
half Of the railroad graded but that is
overfiowed."
The advice your correspondent gives %
citizens of Florida who have invested I'm
the scheme, is toponder well this article
and-beware! II is far better 10 endure
the ills Of Florida, II ills they are. than
to 'ny To those they know not Of in 81
naloa, Mexico. SId.